....ArtWorks Project Space.....

I believe in the power of the universe and the possibilities that open up when we let our imaginations run free. I can never get lost because I always have myself, but sometimes, I want to have some fabulousness’ Yang XuBarbican Arts Group Trust is proud to announce ArtWorks Open 2019 prize winner Yang Xu’s solo exhibition 100 Carat Diamond.Overrun with mysteries and multiple readings and begging numerous questions, 100 Carat Diamond brings together recent works mirroring reflections on Xu’s identity constructed through her performative paintings and photographic prints. Xu uses her gestures and female body to explore the realms of sexuality and desire, with her playful brushstrokes on linen she creates a fictional wonderland, and through textured photographic realism Xu allows us to peer into her world of fantasies.

Xu explores the construction of identity through a contemporary female gaze. Drawing on art history, fashion, fairytale and drag performance she pushes beyond the canvas and behind the mask to question what is real and what is fake and what is woman in her fantasy world. Inspired by the French Rococo art movement’s elaborate and extravagant style, Xu believes that rococo at the end carried void, lavish and corrupt privilege of power and female stereotypes, however she uses her own contemporary creations to celebrate the exuberance, surprise and drama that rococo originally sought to express.•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••Yang Xu www.xuyang-studio.com (b. 1996, Shandong, China) graduated with 1st Class Honours in BA Painting Wimbledon College of Arts (2018) and is currently attending MA Painting at Royal College of Art (2018-20). She has been nominated in many prizes including Contemporary Young Artist (2020), The Signature Art Prize (2019) and she recieved the Highly Commended award at the Air Gallery Open (2019). Xu was also shortlisted for the Clyde & Co Art Award (2018). Xu has contributed to collaborative art projects ‘Imaging Technologies’ With Painting Research at Wimbledon College of Arts at Tate Modern (2017) and ’Here she Comes’ with Monster Chetwynd at Royal Festival Hall (2016).